Resume Summary Examples (and How to Write Yours)
Short answer: A resume summary is 2–4 sentences at the top of your resume. Use this formula: your title and years of experience, your specialty, one concrete achievement with a number, and (optionally) what you want next. Keep it under about 80 words and skip clichés.
The formula
[Title] with [X years] in [specialty/industry]. [Your strongest achievement, with a number]. [A skill or credential that matters for the job / what you want next].
That is it. A summary is not a biography or a list of personality traits; it is the trailer for the rest of the page.
Summary vs. objective
An objective says what you want; a summary says what you offer. Use a summary in almost every case. A short objective only makes sense if you are changing careers or have no experience — and even then, lead with what you bring.
Examples by role
Software engineer
Registered nurse
Sales representative
Marketing manager
Customer service representative
Teacher
Project manager
Accountant
Graphic designer
Data analyst
Career changer (teacher to instructional designer)
Recent graduate
Student with no experience
Executive
Trades
What to avoid
- Clichés: "results-driven", "team player", "hard-working", "go-getter". Show it with a result instead.
- First person: write "Led a team of 5", not "I led a team of 5".
- Length: anything over about 80 words stops being read.
- Generic goals: "looking for a challenging role in a dynamic company" says nothing.
Browse the resume examples for 60 complete summaries in context.
Questions
How long should a resume summary be?
Two to four sentences, roughly 30–80 words.
Do I need a summary on my resume?
It is optional, but recommended: it is often the first thing a recruiter reads and the easiest place to match the job title and key skills.
Put it into practice
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